Diaper washer and storage receptacle



Nov. 7, 1961 R. w. BARKS DIAPER WASHER AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiWBA/wrs Filed March 5, 1960 1 I BY 7 I I w ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 7, 1961 R. w. BARKS DIAPER WASHER AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE Filed March 3, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lPhs I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS- Nov. 7, 1961 I R. w. BARKS 3,007,329

DIAPER WASHER AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE Filed March 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 RW,BARKS INVENTOR 08 ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS R. W. BARKS DIAPER WASHER AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE Nov, 7, 1961 Filed March 3, 1960 3,007,329 Patented Nov. 7., 1961 3,tlil7,329 DEAPER WAdHER AND STORAGE RECEPTACLE Robert W. Barks, Stanton, Del, assignor to The Bowl Washer Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 12,628 4 @Claims. (Cl. 68-53) This invention relates to a diaper washer in which the tub of the washer provides a convenient and sanitary storage receptacle for the dirty diapers from the time that they are removed from the baby until they are washed.

It is common practice around homes to remove a dirty or wet diaper from a baby and place same in a receptacle, until enough diapers have been accumulated to warrant a washing. in such practice the diapers create an unpleasant odor and in the summer time draw flies. Furthermore, there is a least a dual handling of the dirty diapers involved, from the babys body to the storage receptacle and from the latter to the washing machine. Then in addition the storage receptacle itself becomes dirty and odoriferous and must be cleaned.

The object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer in which the tub of the washer provides a convenient storage receptacle for the dirty diapers after they have been removed from the babys body until time for washing same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer which is so constructed that the tub can be positioned over the commode of a toilet during the wash ing operation, or wheeled over same after the washing operation has been completed, and the dirty Water allowed to flow into the commode by simply opening a valve in the bottom of the tub.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer in which, after the washing operation has been completed, the diapers can be rinsed one or several times, without either removing same from the tub or even raising the lid of the same.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer which is adapted for operation either manually or by an electric motor.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer in which compressed air is used periodically during the washing operation to remove dirt from the diapers and flocculate same with the washing water.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a diaper washer which is electrically driven and which has compressed air means for removing dirt from the diapers during the washing operation and in which a single electric motor is used for operating the electric washer and driving a pump to supply the compressed air.

Additional objects, advantages and improvements will become apparent from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the diaper washer according to the present invention, connected to a faucet on a wash stand and positioned over the commode of a toilet.

PlG. la is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of a lid on the tub and the latch means for holding the former in place.

FIG. 2 is atop plan view of the diaper washer according to the present invention, and the wash stand and the commode of the toilet, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the section lines 33 ct FIGS. 1 and 2 and looking in the dircction of the arrows, showing the internal construction of the diaper washer.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the section line 44 and looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the agitator blades and the supporting screen for the wash bowl.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view, taken on the section line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the mountings of the operating arms for the agitator blades and the lid for the tub.

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the drive for the agitator blades and the operating rod for the drain valve.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the section line 7-'7 of FIG. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the driving motor, the air pumps, the drive for the agitator blades, and the compressed air storage tank.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the section line 8-$ of FIG. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and also showing the driving motor, the air pump, the drive for the agitator blades, and the compressed air tank, and further showing the tub connected to a faucet on a wash stand.

FIG. 9 is also a vertical sectional view, taken on the section line 99 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and further showing the driving motors, the air pump, the drive for the agitator blades, and the compressed air storage tank.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, taken on the section line iii-10 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows, but showing a modified form of the invention in which a compressed air line is provided for removing dirt from the diapers.

FIG. 11 is a vertical detail sectional view, taken on the section line llll of FIG. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the exit openings for the compressed air from the agitator blades.

FIG. 12 is a detail sectional view showing the connection of the compressed airline to the sleeve which mounts the agitator blades.

FIG. 13 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of the operating rod for the drain valve of the tub in the modification according to FIGS. 7 and 10, inclusive.

FIG. 14 is a detail sectional view, taken on the section line 14-44 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing part of the drive for the agitator blades.

FIG. 15 is a horizontal detail sectional view through the compressed air control valve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in particular, a conventional wash stand is here shown at 10 having at least one faucet 11, preferably a hot water faucet thereon, and a toilet comprised principally by a commode at 12. The principal component of the present invention is a tub 16, which is of generally cylindrical shape, but which has an inverted frusto-conical bottom 14. The tub 13 is supported by legs 17, four (4-) of these being shown. The general arrangement of the legs 17 is such that they are secured to the tub 13 by machine screws or rivets 16, carry rollers 18 at their lower ends, and extend downwardly and divergently with respect to both the vertical longitudinal and transverse center planes of the tub. The machine screws or rivets 16 can well be dispensed with and the legs 17 welded to the body of the tub.

One of the outstanding features of the present invention is that the legs 17 are of suficient length so that the bottom 14 can be positioned over the commode 12 of the toilet and the dirty water, after washing and rinsing, allowed to drain into the, commode by opening an outlet valve, to be later described.

The tub 13 is partially enclosed by a cover or top 19 which has a flange 20 on its under side, the latter being received along the inner wall of the tub by a close fit. The top is partially comprised by a sector shaped door 23,

which is hinged to the top at 22. As with the top 19, the door 23 is formed on its under side with a perimetrical flange 24, which in this case is inset from the inner wall of the tub 13 to provide space for a gasket 25 of soft'rubher, or other suitable material. This gasket 25 is L- shaped in cross section and also is positioned on the upper edge of the tub 13 and the outer perimeter of the door 23 rests on same when the door is in closed position, This gasket performs an important function in preventing the escape of odors from the dirty diapers in the tub 13.

On the inner wall of the tub 13 and slightly below the top of same there is formed an internal shoulder 26. A catch is provided for cooperation with the shoulder 26 to hold the door 23 inthe closed position. The particular type of catch shown is comprised by a knob 27 which is secured to a shaft 28 above the door 23, an arm 31, which is secured to the shaft 28 below the door 23 and adapted to engage under the shoulder 26, and spaced bushings 29 and 30 surrounding the shaft 23 and positioned respectively between the knob 27 and the door 23 and between the latter and the arm 31.

Water is admitted to the tub 13 through a shoit pipe section 32, which extends through a suitable hole in the side wall of the tub adjacent the top of the latter and has an integral flange 33 adapted to abut the side wall on its inner surface. A hose 34 is connected to the pipe section 32 and to the faucet 11 on the wash stand 10 by a suitable sleeve 35. At any convenient place on the outside of the tub 13 there is mounted a hook 36 for reception of the hose 34, when the latter is not connected to the faucet 11, that is when the diaper washer is not in use.

The agitator is secured to a sleeve 37, which is rotatably mounted centrally of the tub 13, journalled at its upper end in an integnal boss 21 on the under side of the cover or top 19 and below its mid-section in a hollow cylindrical bearing 43, to be later described. The agitator blades 38 are three (3) in number and are shaped as shown in FIG. 3, radially spaced 120 around the sleeve 37, and are secured along their inner edges to the sleeve. The blades 38 are fiat pieces of metal, approximately one eighth inch thick. A greater or lesser ntunber of agitator blades could, of course, be used.

A screen 40 is positioned across the interior of the tub 13 at the juncture of the cylindrical section with the inverted frusto-conioal bottom 14 of the latter, and serves to support the wash load. The screen 49 is secured at its circumference to a ring 41, which is force-fitted along the inner wall of the tub 13. Extending radially inwardly from the ring 41 there is a support comprised by a plurality of arms 42, which mount the hollow cylindiical bearing 43 for the sleeve 37.

At its upper end the sleeve 37 is journalled in an integral boss 21 on the cover or top 19. Above the cover or top 19 the sleeve 37 carries a bevel gear 44, which is secured thereto by a pin 45. For manual operation an L-shaped operating arm 47 is provided, this arm having mounted at its inner end a bevel gear 46, which meshm with the bevel gear 44. The horizontal section of the L-shaped arm 47 is journalled in a bearing comprised by a bearing block 49 and a cap 51. This bearing block 49 is secured to the cover or top 19 by bolts or machine screws 48 and the cap 51 to the bearing block 49 by bolts or machine screws 50.

The outlet valve is comprised by a stopper 52, which is normally received in a neck 15 on the inverted frustoconical bottom 14 of the tub. A rod 54 is slidably positioned within the sleeve 37 and is secured to the stopper 52 by a diametrically positioned pin 53. At its upper end the rod 54 carries a knob 56 and surrounding the rod and positioned intermediate the knob 56 and the hub of the bevel gear is a coil compression spring 55.

In operation, it will be apparent that water can be admitted to tub 13 through the hose 34 by opening the faucet 11 until the water has reached a desired level within the tub. The diapers to be washed are placed in the tub through the door 23. Soap, or other detergent, will also preferably be placed within the tub. By oscillating the operating handle 47 in the alternate direction shown by the arrows (FIG. 1), the pairs of agitator blades 38-38 will beat against the diapers and force them through the Washing water until they are thoroughly cleansed.

The washing operation may be carried out with the tub 13 positioned over the commode 12 of the toilet, or it may be carried out at some other location and the tub rolled over the commode 12. In either case, the knob 56 may be depressed and the stopper 52 forced from the neck 15 of the frusto-conical bottom section 14 of the tub, and the dirty water allowed to drain into the commode.

In the modification illustrated by FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 14 of the drawings the agitator blades are power driven. Also a compressed air jet is provided through the agitator blades for blowing fine particles of dirt off the diapers. A cabinet or housing is required for enclosing the driving motor, air pump, air storage tank, and the transmission between the driving motor and the agitator blades. This housing is comprised by a rear wall 57, a partition wall 59, a front wall 62, parallel side walls 67-67, a rear bottom section 68, a forward bottom section 70, a Wall 69 between the rear bottom section 68 and the forward bottom section 70, and a top 71. The driving electric motor, air pump, air storage tank, and transmission between the driving electric motor and the agitator blades, all to be later described, are located in the space enclosed at the rear by the partition 59 and the wall 69, in front by the wall 62, and on the sides by the walls 67-67. Adjacent its bottom the front wall 62 has a slidable door 64 therein, which is mounted in parallel guides 65-65 and carries a knob 66. The door provides access to the driving electric motor, air pump and transmission between the driving electric motor and the agitator blades, all to be later described. The top 71 has a downwardly extending perimetrical flange 72, which encompasses the tops of the rear wall 58, the front wall 62 and the side walls 67-67. In the area underneath the tub 13 the parallel side walls 67-67 are cut away to provide clearance, so that the entire structure may be rolled into such position as to locate the tub 13 over the commode 12 of the toilet. This area is closed by the upper bottom section 68. The legs 17 are here secured to the parallel side walls 67-67 above the upper bottom section 68. In the latter there is provided a suitable hole 73, which receives the neck 15 on the inverted frusto-conical bottom 14 of the tub 13. A washer 74 surrounds the neck 15 above the bottom section 68 and a flanged sleeve 75 is secured to the bottom section 68 and surrounds the neck 15 below the latter. The stopper 51 in the construction according to FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive, is here replaced by a valve 76 of the poppet type. Since the tub 13 in this construction must fit closely in the space formed by the rear wall 57, parallel side walls 67-67, and the partition 59, a different form of joint is used between the cover or lid 19 and the tub. The upper rim of the tub is here formed as an inset and upwardly extending flange 76, which received the downwardly turned rim of the cover or lid 19, in such manner that the latter is flush with the outer periphery of the tub.

Within the space formed by the front wall 62, parallel side walls 67-67 and intermediate wall 69, there is mounted an electric driving motor 78, which is secured to the lower and forward bottom section 70 by bolts 79. This electric motor has a front pulley 94 and a rear pulley 80. This rear pulley 80 is drivably connected by a bolt 81 to a pulley 82 on a shaft 83, which is journalled in a casing 84. This casing 84 is mounted on the forward and lower bottom section 70 of the casing by bolts 85. Within the casing 84 the shaft 83 carries an eccentric 87. Surrounding the eccentric 87 there is an eccentric strap 88 to which is connected a rod 89, the latter extending upwardly through a slot 86 in the casing 84. At its upper end the rod 89 is pivotally connected to an arm of a bell crank lever 90 which is mounted on a bracket 91, the latter being secured to the partition 59 by bolts or machine screws 92. The other arm of the bell crank lever 99 is connected by a link 93 to the Lshaped operating arm 47, this link extending through a suitable hole-60 in the partition 59.

The front pulley 94 on the electric driving motor 7 8 is connected by a belt 95 to the pulley 96 of an air compressor or pump 98. The latter is also mounted on the forward and lower bottom section of the housing '78 by suitable bolts (not shown).

An air line 99 extends from the air pump 98 to a compressed air storage tank 102, which is mounted on the inside of the front wall 62 of the cabinet by brackets 10E. A conventional check valve 100 is interposed in the air line 99 ahead of the storage tank 182. The tank 181 has an air outlet line 184 connected thereto, a spring biased valve 103 being connected in this line posterior to the tank.

The valve 103 is enclosed in a cylindrical housing which on its interior has a seat 106 at one end and an apertured disc 108 at the other end. A valve member N is adapted to be in closed position on the seat 106- and has a stem 107 which is journalled for slidable movement in the disc 198. A coil compression spring 189 surrounds the stem 107 and abuts at one end the apertured disc 188. it will be apparent that the valve member 105 will open when the pressure in the air line 104 ahead of same is sufficient to overcome the spring 109 and will close when the pressure exerted by the spring is greater than the pressure in the air line.

The air line 104 passes through a hole 61 in the partition 59, enters the tub 13 through a bushing 110, and passes under the screen 40 to the bearing 43 which is supported by the arms 42 and surrounds the sleeve 37 (FIG. 12). The latter has an arcuate opening 112 in its side wall, which registers With the air line 104.

The agitator blades 58 are here of fiat hollow construction and, of course, are thicker than the agitator blades 38 of the modification according to FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, and have holes 114 along their lower edges. Within the agitator blades the sleeve 37 has holes 113 therein parallel to its axis, which provide communication between the interior of the bearing 43 and the interior of the agitator blades. The agitator blades rest at their bottoms on a washer 115, which in turn has a rotatable support on the bearing 43. A ring nut 116 is mounted by suitable screw threads on the lower end of the sleeve 37 and abuts the bearing 43 to complete the assembly. In the lower end of the sleeve 37 there is force fitted a disc 117, which has a central hole therein receiving the valve operating rod 54, to prevent the escape of compressed air.

On account of the space for compressed air between the sleeve 37 and the valve operating rod 54, which is necessary in the construction according to FIGS. 8 to 15, inclusive, a different form of upper bearing is provided for the sleeve 37 than that shown in FIG. 3.

This latter form of upper bearing is shown in FIG. 13. The cover or top 19 is here formed with an axially positioned bearing well comprised by a cylindrical wall 118 and an apertured bottom 120. The hub of the driven bevel gear 44 is secured to the sleeve 37 by a pin 121 and is rotatably received within the cylindrical Wall 118 of the bearing well and the sleeve 37 is rotatably received in the apertured bottom 120. The upper end of the sleeve 37 is closed by a disc 122, againstwhich the spring 55 abuts and which has an integral boss 123 received within the bore of the sleeve.

It will be apparent that in the construction according to FIGS. 9 to 17, inclusive, the electric motor 78 drives the agitator blades 58 through the belt 81, shaft 83, bell crank lever 90, link 93, and bevel gearing 46-44, in the same manner as the hand drive in the construction according to FIGS. 1 to 8, inclusive. Also, the electric motor 7 8 drives the air compressor or pump 98 through the belt to furnish air to the agitator blades 58 through the line 99, storage tank 102, control valve 103 and line 194. Generally, agitator blades 58 will turn about half an oscillation while the air is emitted through the holes 114 in the bottom of the latter. The air issuing in jets from holes 114 in the bottom of the agitator blades 58' will blow the fine particles of waste 011 the diapers being washed and these fine particles will be carried in suspension until the water is drained from the tub 13.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A diaper washing machine having a tub with a hopper-shaped bottom, a perforated panel above the bottom and defining the lower end of a diaper-containing compartment in the tub, the upper end of the tub having a cover with a loading opening, agitator mechanism positioned within said compartment for agitating diapers suspended in it, said mechanism including gear-connected manual operating means extending out from the compartment to the exterior of the machine, a discharge opening in the lower end of the hopper-shaped bottom, a movable plug for covering said opening, control elements connecting the plug with a discharge control on the exterior of the machine, and support mechanism for holding the tub over a toilet bowl.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which both the cover and the plug are fitted in air-tight engagement with the tub.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the agitator mechanism is held on a hollow shaft journalled in vertical position within the diaper compartment, the control elements include a rod movably fitted within the hollow shaft, and the plug is secured to the lower end of the rod.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the plug is mounted below the discharge opening to seal against its lower face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 116,314 Kenney Apr. 6, 1926 Re. 20,699 Brennan Apr. 19, 1938 361,163 Jacoby Apr. 12, 1887 889,241 Kennedy June 2, 1908 945,871 Sochurek Ian. 11, 1910 1,659,283 Schroeder Feb. 14, 1928 1,664,792 Rufiner Apr. 3, 1928 2,649,704 Tyrner Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,524 Netherlands Nov. 15, 1946 182,576 Switzerland May 1, 1936 

